Conservative Group Pledges a $100,000 Matching Grant for Helms’ CBS Takeover

Sen. Jesse Helms’ movement to organize a takeover of CBS and curb what he calls the network’s “liberal bias” appeared to be gaining momentum Friday as the National Conservative Political Action Committee announced that it would contribute a $100,000 matching grant to the attempt.

NCPAC Chairman John T. (Terry) Dolan said the money would be available if Helms (R-N.C.) and a conservative group calling itself Fairness in Media raised the same amount toward the purchase of CBS stock in 30 days.

CBS vowed Friday to take “all appropriate steps” to fight a possible takeover bid by conservatives being urged by Helms to buy stock in the network to “regain control of the airwaves.”

Helms and the media group filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week, saying they are mailing out a letter to rouse conservatives across the country to join in a CBS stock buy-out.

“For too long CBS has practiced irresponsible journalism with a very obvious liberal bias,” Dolan said in a letter that accompanied a $100,000 check made out to the Republican senator.

NCPAC raises money to conduct independent campaigns against liberals in both the Democratic and Republican parties. Wishing Helms “the best of luck” on his “important project,” the panel offered the money with three conditions: the matching funds, establishment of a private investment corporation to take over CBS, and NCPAC approval of the ownership and management of the corporation.

Mary Boies, CBS vice president for corporate information, denied Friday that the network slants its news reporting and criticized the group’s action as a threat to freedom of the press.

“CBS News reports the news as accurately and fairly as it can, independent of any political point of view,” Boies said. “To seek control of a corporation for the sole purpose of subjecting its news operations to political influence contradicts the traditions of a free and independent press.”